SpinScan, though perhaps still present to some degree, is considerably difficult to analyze. As such, pedal- stroke analyzation in this mode is unavailable.
Velotron Coaching Software (CS) - Appendix E - SpinScan Tips
Improvements in pedaling efficiency can make it possible to produce power with less muscle stress and less fatigue. Many of the world’s greatest cyclists have worked hard to improve pedaling efficiency using sophisticated scientific measurements of pedal pressure. The SpinScan function provides a direct visual measure of pedaling efficiency, thereby allowing one to work on improving pedaling efficiency by the use of real-time biofeedback. One can actually see the immediate effects of modified recruitment patterns on pedaling efficiency.
The SpinScan Feature (by Bill Edwards, Ph.D.)
Pedaling Efficiency
Inefficient pedaling causes one to recruit a relatively few leg-muscle fibers at high intensity, whereas efficient pedaling technique spreads the load out over a great many muscle fibers at a much lower intensity. Muscle fibers fatigue very quickly at high intensity, whereas muscle fatigue occurs much more gradually at lower intensities. It therefore is an advantage to be able to produce power using lower average intensity.
The SpinScan Displays
There are two displays available in the SpinScan function:
The bar chart displays the torque on the pedals as a function of position on the circle, starting with the left foot, and then the right foot. Using the bar chart display, the graph of inefficient pedaling can be displayed by “stomping” down hard on the pedals one at a time (right-left-right-left, etc.). You will see two distinct mountain peaks corresponding to the left and right feet pushing down the pedals. At the bottom of the chart you will see three efficiency numbers corresponding to the left foot, average of both feet, and right foot, respectively. These numbers represent the ratio of the average torque to the maximum torque applied to the pedals multiplied by 100.
(page 25) BarGraph (page 25) Polar Plot
If you next try rotating the pedals while keeping a constant light pressure on the bottoms of your feet all around the entire circle, the graph becomes flatter and the peaks less distinct, and you will feel less intense muscle stress. You should notice that the efficiency numbers displayed at the bottom of the chart have increased. At first, you may find it difficult to maintain this circular pedaling technique and increased efficiency for very long, but with constant practice it will become second nature. It just takes time for your muscle cell firing patterns to adapt and to “learn” the new technique.
The polar display shows the torque around the entire circle of the pedals. When “stomping” on the pedals one at a time, the display shows two distinct lobes (like an airplane propeller). With circular pedaling, the display becomes a nearly perfect circle, and the efficiency numbers will increase.
Another feature displayed on the polar graph is the angle of attack (the red lines). The angle of attack is the angle at which the average torque is applied to each pedal. A good target for this angle is 90 degrees (i.e., when the pedal cranks are horizontal to the ground). However, this angle depends on saddle position and the degree to which one can recruit hamstrings versus quads in the power stroke. Sprinters normally prefer to have their saddles more forward, and tend to recruit more of the hamstring and hip flexor muscles. Their angle of attack will most likely be greater than 90 degrees. For road riders, the preferred angle of attack is closer to 90 degrees. For time trial bikes, the angle of attack is a compromise between loss of power at the pedals and the gain one can achieve by being more aerodynamic.
- Velotron Coaching Software (CS)
Appendix E - SpinScan Tips
Using the SpinScan Function
Typical SpinScan efficiency numbers for cyclists range from as low as 50 percent or less up to as high as 85-90 percent. However, it is not productive to compare your efficiency numbers with those of other cyclists. What is productive is to start from where you are now, and work toward improving your efficiency from that starting point. Practice makes perfect.
A good way to begin is to try concentrating on improved efficiency by lightening up on the pedals for about 3-5 minutes at a time at first. Try imagining that you have eggshells under your feet and you mustn’t crush them. You should be able to wiggle your feet around in your shoes while you are pedaling hard. If you try an experiment of using this technique while out on the road, you will notice that your speed on the bike will go up by 0.5-1.0 MPH with no additional stress. That is what you are looking for.
Velotron Coaching Software (CS) -
Keyboard Shortcuts
These items within CS are user selectable and can be used to further enhance or debug the software should it be needed. These are:
G key
Pressing the G key will turn on and off the grid within the Charts window. This may be helpful to “unclutter” the window.
C Key
Pressing the C key will cause the software to generate a screen capture of the screen shown at that time. Settings for this feature are found in the Options/Screen Capture menu.
D key
Pressing the D key will turn on and off the frame rate/programming flag indicator. This red display (at the top of the screen) may help when problems occur, like slow scrolling speeds. In addition you will see [PRPM], which is the actual pedal RPM -- useful in aiding the alignment of the cadence sensor.
Ctrl-O keys
Pressing the Ctrl key and then the “O” (not zero) will open a new performance file without exiting the Chart Screen to the menu.
and Arrow Keys
These arrow keys on the PC keyboard change the scroll speed when viewing a saved file in a full zoomed in scroll mode.
and Arrow Keys
These arrow keys on the PC keyboard change the manual zoom window size, where when sizes the Enter key changes to this zoom level. Scrolling may not occur at these levels of zoom.
Handlebar Controller and PC shortcuts
Handlebar Controller Shortcuts
F1 Key - Starts and Pauses the timer and Performance Data Collection. Activates the Save Dialog at the race end or Reset.
F2 Key - Scrolls from Bargraph to Polar SpinScan Display (Start - SpinScan ONLY) Answers “No” to a request to Save Performance
F3 Key - Answers “Cancel” to a request to Save Performance F5 Key - Reset Timer and Performance Data (Save dialog appears) F6 Key - Brake Flywheel
Up /Down Keys - Gear Up and Gear Down
Fn AND Up/Down Keys - Grade Up and Grade Down (SpinScan Screen ONLY) Watts Up and Watts Down (Manual Ergo Mode ONLY) Increases/Decreases DragFactor™ value (prior to timer start)
Velotron Coaching Software (CS) - Index
Symbols
3D Software 20, 22
A
Accuwatt 17
Analyzing Saved Races 22 Autorun.exe 6
Auto Export 24, 33
C
Channel Views 16 Changing 16 Comm Port Selection 15 Comma Delimited 14, 24 Communication Tips 34 Concluding a Test 21 Course (CRS) Creation 28 checking for errors 28 Courses, edit existing 28
D
Drag Factor™ 33
E
ERG File Examples 30-32 ERG Tests 20, 30-32
Ergometer (ERG) Test Creation 30 Exit 14
Export 14, 24
Export File Sizes 14, 24 Export Options 14, 24
F
Features 12 File Menu 14 File, Save 14 Frame Rates 37 Function List 13G
Gears 18H
Handlebar Controller 10I
Install Software 6K
Keyboard Shortcuts 37L
Load Generator 9M
Manual Ergo Mode 20 Maximum Cable Lengths 10 Menu Structure 14 Metric 17 Mouse 10
O
Options Menu 14, 18,19P
PC Dedication 9 PC Keyboard 10 PC Setup Tips 34 PC to TV 10 PulsePower 16Q
Quick Setup 7R
Real Time 15Real Time vs. File Mode? 15 Reports 33 Road Courses 20, 28-29 S Saving Data 20 Scaling 16, 19 Screen Capture 18 Scroll Speed 23
Scrolling Through Data 23 Serial Ports 9
PC’s Without Serial Ports - USB to Serial Adapters 9 Shifting Gears 18
Source 14
Source, Realtime 14 Source, Saved File 14 SpinScan 25-27, 36 Start 14, 20
Start Charts - Real Time 20
Stereo Cable Length 10
T
Test Comm Ports 11, 14, 17, 34 Tips, PC Setup 34
Toss 24
Troubleshooting 35
U
Uninstall Software 6 USB to Stereo Adapter 9 USB to Serial Settings 9 User Reports 33
V
Velotron Data Files 15 Version Number 14 View Options 19
View Options - File Mode 21
Y
Y-Axis Scaling 16, 19, 34